Dogs are pack animals. Dogs are good swimmers. Dog enjoy working like slaves for their human masters. (eg huskies pulling sledges) Therefore, dogs can be used as a means to power a river raft ferry.
Here's how it works:
A pack of the ever eager and happy dogs are harnessed together to form a large matrix.
This matrix is substantial enough to support at least one seated person who is positioned above the dogs and to the front of the raft structure. (additional passengers or cargo can be carried at the back)
The entire structure is "mushed" down a suitable ramp and into the water to be crossed.
As all of the dogs are harnessed to face one direction, a rudder facilitates steering of the raft.
Each dog is suitably rewarded and dried on completion of every journey.-- xenzag, Aug 10 2011 Newfoundland http://en.wikipedia...ki/Newfoundland_dogVery large, but gentle. [8th of 7, Aug 10 2011] Have you ever seen a dog actually making any significant progress when swimming?
Dogs are ineffecient swimmers with limited bouyancy. They also smell bad and shit a lot.
Can I suggest as a more rapid variation:
The Twizzco Catemeran. A raft of cats is arranged surrounded by inflatable bouyancy, which also prevents the moggies from seeing what's ahead. The arrangement is floated and the bouyancy slightly deflated, lowering the cats toward the water. If you've ever tried to lower a cat into water, you'll know that they can generate substantial forces to propel themselves at great speed.
Orders taken now. Cats not included.-- Twizz, Aug 10 2011 I was once in a boat over a mile from shore, to which the owner's dog swam out. I would call that strong swimming. As regards boyancy - this is provided by the actual raft structure. The dogs are only there for engine power (note the category - I'm very careful about that sort of thing)-- xenzag, Aug 10 2011 A rovercraft?-- calum, Aug 10 2011 Good name...-- xenzag, Aug 10 2011 We like the Twizzco idea better, apart from the presence of actual cats. A facility to scuttle the vessel in deep water with the cats still attached would be a significant advantage.
However, dogs would work very well, particularly Newfoundlands, which are huge, powerful, love swimming and are willing draft dogs. There is no doubt of this, because they will do it eagerly, and if you've ever tried to get a 70 kilo Newfoundland to do something it doesn't want to do, you quickly find that "no means NO".
<link>-- 8th of 7, Aug 10 2011 Perhaps each dog could be supplied with two inflatable cats and a tank of hydrogen, as a buoyancy aid ?-- 8th of 7, Aug 10 2011 [+] aquadogsled... "Call of the Wet'n'Wild" featuring 'Duck' the Newf'.-- FlyingToaster, Aug 10 2011 If the "Curse of the Black Whatsit" segment of Watchmen is to be believed (it is a documentary, yeah?), the death of the dogs would necessarily be subaquatic in its consequences, as you would still have a certain amount of bouyancy from your deid dugs. Of course, this leaves the bipeds in charge of propulsion.-- calum, Aug 10 2011 random, halfbakery